EATING BEAVER TAILS. 211 



river to a point about fifty miles above Armstrong's 

 ranch. The party at once set about to find a way 

 out of the cafion, and after a whole day's chopping a 

 path was cleared. Meanwhile Farrell had set a lot 

 of beaver-traps and caught two fine animals. The 

 tails and hams, cooked with beans and pork stew, 

 made a most palatable dish for the hungry hunters. 

 The tail was considered a great luxury. 



The trip over the range next day was enlivened by 

 Dyche's horse, Chief, which suddenly ran away 

 and bucked off the pack of cooking utensils. The 

 outfit was scattered over the mountain and Farrell 

 took the affair as an especial insult to himself. After 

 indulging in very strong mountain language about 

 the horse, he offered to present the naturalist with a 

 good one if he would give the runaway a ball from his 

 Winchester. Hard work was the rule next day, and 

 evening found them still on the side of the mountain. 

 McLaughlin's great exertion with the axe and his 

 abstinence from food during the day now had a 

 bad effect, and he was suddenly attacked by cramps 

 and he rolled on the ground groaning in pain. Dyche 

 and Farrell ministered to his trouble as best they 

 could, and by dint of rubbing at last succeeded in re- 

 lieving him so that he felt able to travel. Before 

 grass and water was reached, however, the cramps 

 returned with increased severity and they were com- 

 pelled to camp in the big woods. A fire was made 

 and the sick man rolled up in a bundle of blankets 

 and warmed, but he suffered intensely, and it was 

 only after long and vigorous rubbing that he became 

 easier. Farrell found that they were within two hun- 



